Do not stand at my grave and weep
I am not there. I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow.
I am the diamond glints on snow.
I am the sunlight on ripened grain.
I am the gentle autumn rain.
When you awaken in the morning’s hush
I am the swift uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circled flight.
I am the soft stars that shine at night.
Do not stand at my grave and cry;
I am not there. I did not die.
– Clare Harner
“Do Not Stand at My Grave and Weep” is a poem written by American poet Clare Harner in 1932 and often erroneously attributed to Mary Elizabeth Frye. The poem is a comforting and uplifting message to those who have lost a loved one, offering a perspective on death that emphasizes the eternal presence of the deceased in the world around us.
Analysis: The poem begins with a direct address to the reader, urging them not to mourn at the speaker’s grave. The speaker asserts that they are not confined to the grave, nor are they sleeping, suggesting that death is not the end of their existence. The phrase “I do not sleep” denies the state of inactivity or oblivion that is often feared in death.
Instead, the speaker presents a series of metaphors that illustrate their continued presence in the natural world. They are “a thousand winds that blow,” “the diamond glints on snow,” “the sunlight on ripened grain,” and “the gentle autumn rain.” These images evoke a sense of beauty, vitality, and continuity, implying that the speaker’s essence is now integrated into the cycles of nature.
The poem then shifts to the speaker’s presence in the daily lives of those who mourn them. They are “the swift uplifting rush / Of quiet birds in circled flight” and “the soft stars that shine at night.” These metaphors suggest that the speaker is a source of comfort, inspiration, and guidance, even in their absence.
The final stanza reiterates the opening lines, emphasizing that the speaker is not confined to the grave and that mourning is unnecessary. The poem concludes with a powerful declaration: “I am not there. I did not die.” This line affirms the idea that the speaker’s spirit lives on, transcending the physical boundaries of life and death.